The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-07-16
GROWTH OF MUSIC.


what the Perfection Of the Piano Has
Done For Musical Culture.
The ancient Hebrews. a. Is well
known from the repeated references in
the Bible, had both vocal and instrtt-
mental music In their temple service,
though there is nothing authentic as to
its character OF merit or degree Of
science
In the eleventh TO the fourteenth
century fourished the troubadeass-
knights and soldiers of royal lineage,
whose lyrical compositions of love and
war greatly extended the field and en-
larged the science of music, which hith-
erto had had to do almost exclusively
with sacred themes.
Since history began there is no record
OF savage race SO savage as to be desti-
tute of some form OF musical instrument
wherewith at least to mark rhythmieal
divisions, and serve as an accompani-
ment to the dance. Many savage
tribes are known to have had crude
melodies, and in the oldest semi-savage
and civilized nations Of which men
have knowledge music has been to
some extent cultivated.
Among the HlndooChinese and Jap
anese the music now IL what it was
thousands Of years ago-an abomina-
ton of disoordant sounds. Almost M
progress has been made, and whatever
music China and Japan hear that is not
a veritable afflicticn Is afforded by the
Persians, who are reputed to rank fiu-
sically among the far Eastern peoples
as do the Italians OF the present day
among the people of Europe.
The Greeks appear to have been the
first among the ancients TO make
marked progress In musical culture.
The Greek drama was a musical recita-
ton, the language Of the actors being
sung, not spoken. While the Music OF
the Greek is one ut the lost arts, its
elaborateness and undoubtedly its merit
rs a system are reasonably inferred
from the known facts that the Greeks
had hundreds of musical signs and that
to be a musician poet required many
years OF practice.
The fathers of the early church, es:
peciaily ST. Ambrose and Pope Gregory
l., though they did not create. but boz.
rowed from Hebrew and Pagan sources;
are to be credited with having inspired
a musical study and training which
made of the church virtual sole custo.
dian and patron of the art of music
during the first ten centuries after
Christ. A reasonable progress was
made; but during all this time harmony
that most important element in music
was wholly wanting. The chanters il
the churches sang only the melody.
The seventeenth century was marked
by the extension of the knowledge o
harmony and by the virtual perfection
of stringed instruments-th vialin
viola and violoncello. 1t was the cen
fury of Amati, Guarneri and Stradiva
riuss the hitter especially, name tina
is yet one of the familiars in ever,
musical circle. Moving forward still
another century, and the time is foun,
to have been ripe for the greatest OF
chestral writers and operate and ora
torio composers the world has pre-
duced-Handel, Bach, Mozart, Cheru
bint and Beethoven were of the numbe
of these. Then there were Auper, Schu
bert, Rossini and Meyerbeer who
though they did their immortal work 1
the nineteenth, were born In the eigh
teenth century.
But the event in music culture whic
marks an epoch in musical advance
ment, and which will distinguish tn
nineteenth MS the birth of great CON
posers distinguished the eighteent
century, is the absolute attainment {
every intricacy of the science Of hal
mony by the perfection of the piano
The first piano used was made in 1T:
and is still in existence. Yet, so great
have the capabilities of the keyed il
strument been unfolded, that fifty yeal
ago the piano was aptly and rightfull
named "the epitome of the orchestra.
1t has given to the musical world Lisz
Chopin, Rubenstein. Won Bulow.
is still developing the genius of con
posers and performers whose creation
will live and whose execution will |
admired and praised until, perhaps. Il
more than once lost art of music as
system shall have been lost again
Chicago Neaos.